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Updated Oct 14, 202435 Gorgeous Natural Wedding Makeup Ideas That Help You Feel Like Yourself
These glowing, dewy and radiant looks were made for your big day.
Wedding day glam doesn't have to mean a bold lip and statement eye makeup. If your goal is a beauty look that makes you look and feel like you, natural wedding makeup may be perfect for your big day. Think of this as elevated "no-makeup" makeup: It's a pared-down beauty look that is clean, minimalist and soft, and there's nothing boring about it. The simplicity can lead to a classic bridal look that works with almost any style of gown.
"A natural makeup look is all about enhancing your features without overpowering them," explains Nydia Figueroa, a celebrity makeup artist located in New York and New Jersey. "Rather than covering up, it's about highlighting your best features. Think light contouring, neutral eye tones, softly defined brows, and a touch of highlighter for that lit-from-within finish." But don't be fooled: Natural makeup can be surprisingly difficult to achieve, so it's important to have some inspiration photos available to show your wedding makeup artist. Keep scrolling to find beautiful examples of natural wedding makeup looks and get tips from beauty experts on how to get the look for your big night. As you're scrolling, click the small heart icon on any of the makeup looks you like and they will be saved to Your Favorites folder in your account on The Knot. By saving these images in Your Favorites, you can begin to create a mood board based on your stored ideas and share with your makeup artist to communicate your vision. Don't have a makeup artist yet? Don't worry, this tool will also recommend local pros based on what you like and what fits your budget.
In this article:
Natural Makeup Looks That Feel Like You
Natural makeup for a wedding can be extremely simple and minimal, or it can refer to a soft glam that feels a bit more luxe than a look you might do on a regular day. "Natural bridal makeup could typically include a light, dewy finish foundation with a pop of color on the cheekbones," says Brenda Orduno, professional makeup artist and Beauty Creations Cosmetics senior product developer. "For the eyes, it might mean a neutral, matte look with a pop of champagne-toned shimmer, accompanied by natural bridal lashes and a shadowed liner for definition." Check out some ideas below.
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1. Soft Natural Bridal Makeup
Take a cue from this bride, who has the natural makeup look down pat. This includes: a glossy lip color that nearly matches your lips, carefully plucked brows, smooth and silky skin and just the right amount of blush.
2. Natural Glam Wedding Makeup
Photo: Steph G. Bishop
,Makeup: Kayla Weathers Makeup
Natural makeup for a wedding can be glamorous too, and this bride's look is proof of that. A subtle take on a smokey eye looks special enough for a night as big as this one—opt for eye shadow as the liner instead of a harsh liquid liner. A soft pink lipstick and natural-looking flush on the cheeks finish the look.
3. Simple Bridal Makeup
Opt for a simple, minimalist makeup look by using this photo as inspiration. Peachy pink lip gloss and subtle eye makeup that looks like it's barely there make for an easy-going look. Add some false lashes if you want a little extra drama.
4. Glowy Natural Bridal Makeup
Photo: Forged in the North
,Makeup: Tedrick Lamar
Your wedding day is the perfect time to go for a serious glow. You can keep your makeup minimal, with a natural-looking, tinted lip oil and a subtle smokey eye, and then add plenty of blush and bronzer on your cheekbones. A few swipes of a sparkling gold highlighter add to the glow.
5. Soft Glam Bridal Makeup
This bride's makeup is the definition of soft glam. A light shimmering silver eye shadow and soft black liner create a really pretty statement eye look that doesn't feel over the top. Since the eye makeup is a bit more defined, opt for a very natural lip color and smooth, glowing skin.
6. Natural Sunkissed Glow
This shimmering bronze look is perfect for a warm weather wedding, specifically one on the beach or in a tropical location. It features sun-kissed, glowing skin and a simple and neutral matte lip color. A thin wing done with eye shadow adds just a bit of drama.
7. Subtle Natural Makeup
For a very no-makeup bridal look, you want to stick with all neutrals and very little drama. A light-coverage foundation and a swipe of blush keep your skin looking fresh and clean, and you can use shadow as a subtle liner.
8. Subtle Pink Bridal Makeup
Natural-looking wedding makeup doesn't have to mean there's no color at all, and this bridal look is a beautiful example of that. Don't shy away from pink blush on your cheekbones, then use a similar pink lipstick or lip gloss. Very subtle eye makeup, with no false lashes in sight, keeps this look simple.
9. Barely There Natural Bridal Makeup
For a natural makeup look that seems nearly invisible, focus on enhancing your features rather than adding a lot of color or drama. You can do this by adding blush to your cheekbones for a natural flush, choosing a lip color that is one or two shades deeper than your lips, and adding false lashes in the outer corner of your eyes.
10. Slightly Shimmery Natural Makeup
Light-colored metallic shades can be a great choice for a shimmering, natural makeup look. Add champagne eye shadow to your lids for subtle sparkle, along with just a bit of liner for definition. Choose a glowy foundation for supple skin.
11. Defined Eyes
Photo: Alyssa Rose Photography
,Makeup: Ricky Fraser
You can add subtle definition to your eyes by playing them up just a bit. Use neutral, light shades to create a very simple shadowed look, then use false lashes for a full look that opens up your eyes. Keep your lips simple and your brows impeccably groomed.
12. Subtle Glam Wedding Makeup
Photo: Lynn Dunston Photography,Makeup: Glam Qui
If your gown and hairstyle feel very glam, you might want your makeup to complement that without having it feel over the top. To achieve that, opt for a subtle shimmer on your eyes, full false lashes and very glowy skin.
13. Minimalist Wedding Makeup
Photo: Max McQueen Photo
,Makeup: Done Up Beauty Salon
Whether you DIY your wedding makeup or you just want to keep things super simple, a minimalist look can work great. This one features a neutral lip gloss, with smooth, dewy skin—a current trending wedding makeup look. Add a little subtle pop of color with a light pink shimmery eye shadow.
14. Neutral Bridal Makeup
Barely there colors and a light coverage foundation create a neutral, no-makeup wedding look that really showcases your features. Go for sheer eye shadow colors and a hydrating lip oil, and add long false eyelashes to define your eyes.
15. Soft Lip Color
If you choose to define your eyes a bit, you may want to keep the rest of your look super simple. Opt for a very light pink shade of creamy lipstick that nearly matches your lips completely—it should just enhance them and make them look hydrated. This allows all attention to go to the rest of your look, which is great for something like a pair of statement earrings.
16. Dramatic Lashes
Don't underestimate the power of great eyelashes: A trusty set of full, dramatic eyelashes can make you look more glamorous without overtaking your entire look. Make sure they are the focus of your makeup by opting for neutral shadow and a barely there lip color.
17. Simple Wedding Makeup
This very simple makeup look is perfect for low-key brides who don't want an overly fussy vibe. Use a light coverage foundation to ensure that you don't cover up your skin's texture completely, and skip the false lashes, especially if you're wearing eyeglasses.
18. Glowy Bridal Makeup
For very light bridal makeup, you really want to make sure your skin looks incredible. This comes down to some essential prep before the wedding, but it's also important to use a foundation that produces a dewy, glowing look. Add lots of blush for a fresh feel.
19. Subtle Pink Lips
Photo: Jeremy Chou Photography
,Makeup: Faces by Emily
With a natural makeup look, you can choose to define just one feature rather than a few. If you want to do that with your lips, choose a color that is two or three shades deeper than your natural color. Focus on a hydrating formula that leaves your lips feeling and looking soft and full.
20. Rosy Pink Eyes
Neutral shadows are great for minimal wedding makeup, but if you want some color, a shimmering light pink is the way to go. This rosy-looking hue brightens and opens up your eyes, especially when paired with long false lashes.
21. Statement Brows
Photo: Kaitlyn Luckow & Alex
Think about the facial feature you like about yourself the most, and choose to define that. If that's your brows, then put a big focus on them. Use the right makeup to shade them and make them look thick and luscious, then keep the rest of your makeup more subtle.
22. Silky Smooth Skin
Your skin can also be the main focus of your beauty look, especially with the right products. Choose a foundation that works for your skin tone and texture, then add blush, highlighter and subtle contouring for a silky-smooth look. Airbrushing helps here, too.
23. Brown Eye Shadow
To subtly define your eyes, opt for brown shadow and liner over black, which can be harsher. Light brown shadow on the lids and a slightly darker brown as liner works well. You can even opt for brown mascara if you want. A light coral lip color completes the look.
24. Polished Natural Makeup Look
To go for elegant sophistication, opt for clean lines and minimal makeup. Soft, neutral eye shadow and lush eyelashes work well here, and a perfectly matte pink lip color looks classically beautiful.
25. No-Makeup Bridal Makeup
The no-makeup makeup look is simple, easygoing, and laid-back. Choose super-neutral colors, a light coverage foundation, and a sheer lip gloss to define your lips. Skip the false lashes and super-defined brows.
26. Simple Clean Bridal Makeup
A clean makeup look for your wedding means glowing skin and low-key eye makeup. Neutral-colored shadows and a brown eyeliner can make a big difference here. Instead of a lip color, choose a sheer gloss or oil for a more hydrated look.
27. Soft and Subtle Glow
Photo: Clary Pfeiffer Photography,
Makeup: Configure Beauty Detroit
If you want a bridal glow, focus on making your skin look as flawless as possible. That means a dewy foundation rather than a matte one, cream blush and subtle contouring and highlighter. Finish the look with clean brows and a peachy pink lipstick.
28. Rosy Cheeks and Lips
When it comes to makeup, the color pink can go far. It all comes down to finding the perfect shade of pink for your complexion. Choose a rosy glow for your cheeks and then find something similar for your lips. This gives off a bright, refreshed finish.
29. Full Lashes
Photo: Megan Noll Photography,Makeup: High Five Salon
False eyelashes are an easy way to elevate your eye makeup quickly—they can also be the star of the show when it comes to the rest of your makeup. Opt for lush, full lashes that look like yours, just better.
30. Subtle Smokey Eye
A smokey eye is not off the table when it comes to natural wedding makeup looks for a wedding. Instead of going very dark or shadowed, opt for something more subtle and light. Using deep brown shades for your smokey eye rather than black can look less harsh, and stay away from too much liquid liner for a softer look.
31. Classic Bridal Glam
A subtle pink lipstick, rosy cheeks, soft contouring, defined brows and pretty eye makeup all come together to create a classically glamorous look that is perfect for your wedding day. This image is a great way to represent that to your natural wedding makeup artist.
32. Sunkissed Bronze Glow
Photo: Jose Alvarado Photography
,Makeup: Blush & Bridal Hair and Makeup
This look includes glowy skin, plenty of highlighter and blush, and a light shimmering peach eye shadow with a similar lip color. What's really special about it, though, is that the makeup almost complements her gorgeous bouquet.
33. Defined Eyes and Natural Skin
Go for a nice mix of natural and more glam with this makeup look. You can put a lot of the focus on your eyes with a shaded out smokey eye and shimmering shadow, then keep the rest of your face more low-key. Use a dewy foundation and neutral lip color to round things out.
34. Dewy Bridal Makeup
The right foundation color and texture for your skin tone is so important when it comes to creating the perfect glowy look. Try a few different foundations before finding your best option for your wedding, then do some subtle contouring and add highlighter for that lit-from-within look.
35. Simple Golden Glow
Lots of gold tones and a dewy foundation can lead to a bright and glowing look for your big day. Choose a neutral shimmering eye shadow and a barely there lip look, like a gloss or an oil. Subtly defined brows and a lack of false eyelashes lead to a much more natural and relaxed look overall.
How to Nail Natural Looking Makeup
Successfully achieving the natural glam wedding makeup look can be trickier than it seems. "Remember, there's a difference between neutral and natural," Figueroa says. "A look can be soft and minimal without being flat." Whether you're doing your own beauty look or working with a professional, keep the following tips in mind to nail the look for your wedding day.
Start With Skin Prep
Getting your skin wedding-ready is always important, regardless of your beauty vibe, but it may be especially important with a natural wedding makeup look since you're really trying to enhance what you already have. You want your skin to glow with or without makeup. "In the days leading up to your wedding, hydrate and gently exfoliate," Figueroa advises. "Drink plenty of water and tailor your prep to your skin type." It's also not a bad idea to visit a dermatologist and get your skin assessed, which is something Orduno recommends to all the brides she works with.
Pick a Look That Feels Like You
Your wedding day is not really the best time to experiment with a brand-new look. Instead, opt for a beauty look that makes you feel extra confident and comfortable. "Stick to looks that reflect your style and don't try anything too outside your comfort zone," Figueroa says. She also recommends searching Pinterest for inspiration photos that feature women who resemble you in skin tone and features so that you have a realistic image to show your makeup artist.
Don't Skip the Makeup Trial
Yes, it costs extra and takes time, but a makeup trial is a must. Orduno recommends scheduling two if you need to or if you're able to. "This helps ensure you'll feel confident with the look you'll have on the day of," she explains. She also strongly recommends trying new wedding makeup products during these trials to get the specific look you want. "Play around with lashes, foundation or lip combos beforehand—you never know what might suit your look better."
Stick to Neutral Colors
A natural makeup look typically involves soft and subtle colors. Opt for a neutral-toned palette for your eye makeup—Figueroa likes browns, soft pinks and champagne highlights. "Tightline the upper lash line for definition and opt for fluttery lashes, not too dramatic," she says. "Brown eyeliner can give a soft definition without the harshness of black." For a lip color, you may want to skip the bright red or pink and instead opt for something closer to your natural lip color, or slightly deeper.
Strive for Glowy Skin
Dewy, glowy skin often goes hand in hand with a natural makeup look, so skip heavy foundations. Figueroa recommends a long-wearing foundation with lighter coverage. "I prefer formulas with a soft matte or natural finish and apply a sheer veil to even the complexion without masking the skin," she says. Your concealer should hide imperfections but also help with radiance. Figueroa recommends a brightening concealer, especially in the inner and outer corners of the eyes, to lift and awaken the face.
Choose Creams Over Powders
To avoid an overly matte finish, you may want to opt for cream products over powdered ones. "Cream bronzers and blushes give a radiant, glow-from-within look," Figueroa says. "Liquid highlighter on the high points of the face adds a beautiful bridal glow." That doesn't mean you need to avoid powders completely, though—Figueroa still uses a powder to keep makeup in place for hours without adding too much shine.
Opt for Glossy Lips
For a truly natural makeup look, wear a lip gloss or lip oil instead of your traditional matte lipstick. Figueroa says it "feels fresh and effortless," and the right shade can enhance your natural lip color. Look for an oil that offers lasting hydration so your lips don't get dry. Figueroa notes that oils add a glossy look without the stickiness that often comes from lip gloss.
Pick the Right Makeup Artist
It's essential to find a makeup artist who makes you feel like you're on the same page. "Work with an artist who listens, understands your preferences, and enhances your features instead of trying to change them," Figueroa says. "Don't be afraid to speak up!" If you're having trouble finding someone, be sure to check out The Knot Vendor Marketplace to search for a makeup artist in your area.
